I honestly have a hard time telling which kills better. I've used 223s to a 480 Ruger, and everything in between. They all work very well.
The largest bloodtrail I've seen to date was produced by a 444 Marlin @ 50yds. via a 270gr Speer Gold Dot (Deep Curl). There was blood for 6 feet on both sides of trail the 5.5 yr. old doe ran down before dropping. Golf ball sized entrance hole, baseball sized exit hole.
I will say I have seen some pretty dramatic stuff with the big bores. Where it looked like the invisible man spin kicked the deer and knocked it sideways, upon impact. Literally knocking them off their feet. BUT, dead is dead, and the smaller calibers, at higher speed with good bullets, have never failed to produce dead deer.....
